Swiss watch designer and manufacturer Rolex plans to open a watchmaking school in Dallas that could result in a coveted job for some top graduating students.
The program, which takes 18 months to complete, will run twice a year, starting in March and September. A full one-third of the curriculum will entail working hands-on servicing Rolex timepieces.
On its website, the legendary Swiss company states that the United States enjoys “a long and storied history” with mechanical watchmaking, dating back over 150 years. In fact, according to Rolex, before “the introduction of the quartz-powered wristwatch in the 1970s and ’80s,” there were dozens of watchmaking schools throughout the United States.
Now, with watchmakers increasingly a rare breed, Rolex is mirroring the school it operates in Lititz, Pennsylvania, hoping to produce the next generation of horologists right here in Dallas.
Not only is the program tuition-free, but Rolex will provide students with a $1,800 monthly stipend to cover living expenses. The company will also cover the costs of flying to its Geneva headquarters, where the final exam is held.
The watch manufacturer already enjoys a deep footprint in the City. The program will be held at the company’s existing Rolex Service Center, located at 2601 N Harwood St. A few years ago, as reported by The Dallas Express in 2021, Rolex also opened a two-story storefront in the City’s historic Highland Park Village.
“I went to watchmaking school as a goldsmith, hoping that I would like watchmaking just as much… I had some butterflies in my stomach, but I had this moment of realization when it washed over me, and I thought, ‘Wow, I really enjoy this. This is what I’m supposed to be doing,'” says Tim Rabe, a technical instructor in the program, according to the program’s webpage.
If you are interested in the watchmaking program, apply before the April 15 deadline. The program will be limited to 15 students each semester.
